Spectators, politicians come out full force for Labor Day parade

Thousands of people lined the streets of Marlborough Monday for the annual Labor Day Parade, which this year highlighted the volunteer efforts of local residents and organizations.

By Kendall Hatch/Daily News staff

MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

By Kendall Hatch/Daily News staff

Posted Sep. 4, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 4, 2012 at 4:04 AM

By Kendall Hatch/Daily News staff

Posted Sep. 4, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 4, 2012 at 4:04 AM

MARLBOROUGH

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Thousands of people lined the streets of Marlborough Monday for the annual Labor Day Parade, which this year highlighted the volunteer efforts of local residents and organizations.

The theme of this year's parade was "Volunteers in Service." This year's parade marshal was the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #3565. Joining the Eagles in the lengthy parade were local marching bands, Revoluntionary War re-enactors and a long list of candidates seeking political offices.

U.S. Senate candidates Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren were the two biggest names to make their way down Main Street, but they weren't alone.

U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, whose 5th district seat will include Marlborough under redistricting, marched in the parade, as did her her two Republican challengers, Jon Golnik and Tom Weaver.

Other local politicians and candidates included Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian and 4th Middlesex state Rep. Steven Levy as well as one of his two Democratic challengers facing off in the primary, Danielle Gregoire.

Thirteenth Middlesex state Rep. Tom Conroy was also on the parade route, as were state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, and his opponent for the Senate seat, Republican Dean Cavaretta of Stow.

Mayor Arthur Vigeant, Interim Superintendent Stephen Dlott and members of the City Council and School Committee headed up the parade.

Before the festivities began, some spectators said they have made the parade an annual priority.

Lifelong resident Roland Maurice, who was sitting on Main Street with his wife, Joan, said the couple haven't missed a single Labor Day parade since the event started in 1952 under the direction of former Mayor Romeo Gadbois and former Recreation Director Lou Ghiloni.

"We love it," he said. "It's a good get-together. Everybody is having fun."

The Maurices, who were waiting with more than a dozen empty chairs reserved for family members still on their way, said they started off going to the parade with their children, then with grandchildren and now with great-grandchildren.

"This is a family day," said Joan Maurice. "I just love it."

Nearby, Holden's Bill Charboneau said he has been coming to the parade since just about the beginning of the event, too - spending some of those years on the Hudson Fire Department trucks coming down the parade route.

"I used to be on the Hudson Fire Department," he said. Now, he said, he still likes to come to catch up with old friends.

"We all meet around the same places, we know where to find each other," he said. "You come and meet the people you haven't seen for years."